Steelheads game notes
April 18, 2007 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Gary Steelheads News Release
Fish Hooks
- THE SERIES: This is the first ever meeting between the two teams. It is also the season opener for the Cagerz.
- TALE OF THE NUMBERS: The Gary Steelheads have overwhelmed their first three opponents in the young USBL season. Through three games, the Steelheads are outscoring their opponents by an average of 24.4 ppg. They are outrebounding their opponents by 10 rpg and outshooting their opponents from the field by 13.4%. They have nearly three times as many blocked shots as their opponents.
- BALANCED ATTACK: The Gary Steelheads have showcased tremendous balance in their offensive attack this season. The Steelheads have no fewer than seven players averaging in double figures. Guard Rob Griffin paces the attack at 22.5 ppg, followed by Akeem Clark (20.0 ppg), Louis White (15.3 ppg), Jamario Moon (15.0 ppg), Adam Schaper (14.7 ppg), Ray Cunningham (12.0 ppg) and Marlowe Currie (10.3 ppg).
- BLOCK PARTY: Add one more name to the Steelheads' Block Party. Jamario Moon leads the USBL in blocked shots (3.5 bpg), with Adam Schaper 3rd (1.7 bpg) and Chris Alexander 4th (1.5 bpg). The Block Party's newest member is Ray Cunningham, who weighs in tied for 5th (1.0 bpg). That gives the Steelheads four of the top five shot blockers in the league.
- SHOOTING STARS: Forward Jamario Moon continues to lead the USBL in foul shooting, having connected on all 12 of his free throw attempts without a miss. Guard Louis White ranks 7th in USBL foul shooting, hitting 20-21 attempts (.952).
- IT'S SCHAPER TIME: Rookie forward Adam Schaper has been an incredible surprise in the young season. A product of Bethel College in South Bend, Schaper scored 17 points in each of his first two games. He currently stands tenth in USBL scoring at 14.7 ppg and third in the league in blocked shots at 1.7 bpg.
- IT'S SHOWTIME: You'll hear the phrase, "It's Showtime" a great deal at Steelheads games. That's because the team is now owned and operated by a new ownership group, Showtime Sports and Entertainment. The following principals compose this group: Jewell Harris Jr., Esq., Darnail Lyles, Esq., Dr. Adolphus Anekwe, Dr. Olusegun Ishmael, Dr. Paul Okolocha, Dr. Basil Ubanwa and Ben Richmond (owner of Family Mobile Medical and the Beach Café Restaurant). Jewell Harris Jr. is President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. Showtime Sports and Entertainment came about in an effort to better diversify ownership of the franchise, to assure its long term stability and viability. The company also will be involved in other entertainment promotion.
- FROM CBA WORST TO CBA FIRST: The regular season performance of the Gary Steelheads during the 2005-2006 season constitutee one of the great single-season turnarounds in CBA history. During 2004-2005, the Steelheads finished at the bottom of the league with a 17-31 record and 135½ quarter points (2.8 QPA). In 2005-2006, Gary improved a net total of 24 games from 14 games under .500 to 10 games over .500 at 29-19. They raised their quarter point average to 4.10, an increase of 1.3 quarter points per game over the previous year. And the Steelheads won an incredible 25½ more quarters of basketball than the previous year.
- WATCH OUT FOR THAT CLIFF: The Steelheads named former Chicago Bulls forward Cliff Levingston to succeed Jaren Jackson as head coach on November 21st, 2006. He joined the Steelheads as an assistant on February 8th. Levingston played on the Chicago Bulls' first two championship teams and was a fan favorite. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the 1982 NBA Draft, going ninth in the first round. He retired from the game in 1995. In 2000, Levingston began his coaching career as an assistant coach in the CBA with the Ft. Wayne Fury. In 2001, he served as an assistant coach with the Dodge City Legend of the USBL. After a year as a college assistant at St. Francis, he returned to Dodge City as head coach. His Legend team won the USBL title, and Levingston was named USBL Coach of the Year. During 2003-04, Levingston served as an assistant for the Harlem Globe Trotters. Two years ago, he coached the St. Louis Flight of the ABA.
- HOW THE STEELHEADS WON IN THE CBA: The Gary Steelheads finished their last CBA season with a best-ever franchise record of 29-19. But this alone did not deliver the top seed in the playoffs. Yakama, Sioux Falls and Rockford all had more wins. But Gary was more efficient than any other team in winning quarters. The Steelheads won 110 quarters of basketball, six more quarters than any other team in the league. With each quarter having a value of one quarter point, this surplus of quarter victories made the difference. The USBL does not use a quarter point system.
- A DAY TO REMEMBER FROM 2005-2006: Success over the length of a professional basketball season requires that a number of diverse elements come together. Timing and talent are key ingredients, and the Steelheads had both in abundance during 2005-2006. But, arguably, one moment may stand out among many as the key to the team's success that year. The date was December 21st, 2005, when the Gary Steelheads acquired center Chris Alexander from the Dakota Wizards and signed power forward Edmund Saunders. At that time, the Steelheads were being outrebounded by a whopping 9.8 rebounds per game. Alexander and Saunders cut into that deficit immediately, and Gary's winning percentage began to climb. Saunders played well enough that the Steelheads were able to trade him to Albany for all star forward Carl Mitchell, who has continued to anchor the power forward spot. By the end of the season, the Steelheads had shaved the rebound deficit down to 1.9 rpg. And Gary's regular season record since these roster moves was an excellent 22-11.
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